Media Statement
Aliran Appeal for Gujarat Earthquake Relief
Bhuj, a city of 150,000 located 20 km from the earthquake's epicenter, Anjar (pop. 80,000), and Bhachau were hardest hit, with thousands of homes flattened while dozens of high rises and multistorey apartments to the east in Ahmadabad, the state's commercial hub, collapsed.
As of February 1, 2001, the official death toll according to the Gujarat state emergency control center had reached 14,240, and state officials feared that the figure could eventually rise to at least 35,000. The number of homeless were estimated at more than 600,000.
There have been more than 350 aftershocks since Friday, and survivors are streaming out of the area amidst fears of another massive quake.
Tens of thousands of missing persons remain unaccounted for, but experts say few people can survive more than 100 hours while buried in rubble. Much of the relief effort has now shifted to getting tents, blankets and medical care to the survivors, and control measures against the explosive spread of infectious disease.
With nighttime temperatures reaching about 5 degrees centigrade (40 degrees Fahrenheit), blankets are urgently needed, as well as setups for potable water supplies.
Much of the rescue work is being carried out by the 23,000 Indian troops sent to the disaster area, and countless other voluntary initiatives. The national government has pledged money and resources to alleviate the people's plight in Gujarat, and Indians across the nation and elsewhere are making private donations, as also foreign governments and their citizens.
The Executive Committee of Aliran has decided to launch an appeal to supplement the efforts of other Malaysian groups who are organising collections for the relief of Gujarat's earthquake survivors, and for subsequent re-construction.
Intending donors who wish to contribute in kind (clothes, blankets, bedsheets, food and other supplies) are requested to deliver them to collection centres being organised by Malaysia Hindu Sangam (04-2627822; 016-4227833), Lions Club Georgetown (04-2262962; 012-4212756), Malaysian Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry 04-2620960; 017-4750960), and Cosmart Hypermarket.
Those who wish to make monetary contributions via Aliran's earthquake relief fund are kindly requested to send crossed cheques made out to Aliran (Gujarat Earthquake Relief Fund), to our Penang address (see address above)
Aliran's collections will end on February 28, 2001, and all moneys collected will be accounted for and delivered to the Indian High Commission or to other Indian groups that will reliably use the funds to benefit the earthquake victims.
Thank you very much for your kind consideration.
Very sincerely,
Dr Subramaniam Pillay
Dr Mustafa Anuar
Dr Chan Chee Khoon
5 February 2001 | |||||||||||||||
A week ago on Friday, 26 January 2001, shortly before 9 am, the most powerful earthquake in half a century rumbled across the Indian sub-continent from its epicenter in the north-western state of Gujarat. The tremors, registering 6.9 on the Richter scale (French, Chinese and American seismologists measured them at 7.6 to 7.9) were felt from Katmandu, Nepal, to Karachi, Pakistan and all the way south to Madras, Tamil Nadu.